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Jewell County, Kansas

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
47th of 105highest risk in Kansas
$8Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Jewell County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 75% of US counties. It ranks 47th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are hail, inland flooding and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $7.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,611 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe winter storm, straight-line winds, flooding and wildfires). No homes here carry federal flood insurance.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Jewell County

Hail

High
$3.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Strong wind

Moderate
$945,872 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailHigh96.2
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low13.4
$1M
Strong windModerate72.8
$946K
TornadoLow38.6
$720K
DroughtModerate74.2
$599K
Ice stormModerate73.2
$235K
Cold waveVery Low14.4
$128K
LightningLow34.6
$118K
Heat waveVery Low22.9
$71K
Winter weatherLow49.8
$57K
WildfireVery Low44.3
$30K
EarthquakeVery Low12.8
$12K
LandslideVery Low14.6
$53

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Jewell County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm12
Flood1
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

May 21, 2025Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and WildfiresMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2022Severe Storms and Straight Line WindsMajor disaster
Feb 24, 2017Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jul 20, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 24, 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 29, 2011Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 10, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 9, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2008Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Show all 15
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 3, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 22, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Kansas also had 10 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 563 storm reports in Jewell County since 1950, with 0 deaths and 4 injuries and about $91.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on May 29, 2008 near Jewell.

43tornadoes
332hail reports, largest 5.25 inches
162damaging thunderstorm winds
12floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 29, 2008EF3Jewell0 / 0
Sep 18, 1986F3–0 / 0
May 27, 2013EF3Salem1 / 0
May 6, 2015EF2Esbon1 / 0
May 6, 2015EF2Webber0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 14, 2020HailMankato$26M
May 29, 2008TornadoJewell$6M
Jun 22, 2003Flash FloodCountywide$5M
Jun 2, 2011FloodIonia$3M
May 6, 2015Flash FloodBurr Oak$3M
Sep 18, 1986Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 9, 2025. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Jewell County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$11,856paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $11,856 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Jewell County

$64,600median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1945median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
77%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.6%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 1,761 housing units.

Compare in Kansas

All 105 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Johnson CountyHighInland flooding
Sedgwick CountyHighInland flooding
Shawnee CountyModerateInland flooding
Wyandotte CountyModerateInland flooding
Douglas CountyLowInland flooding
Leavenworth CountyLowInland flooding
Riley CountyLowInland flooding
Butler CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Cloud CountyVery Low14
Mitchell CountyVery Low12
Republic CountyVery Low15
Nuckolls County, NEVery Low19
Smith CountyVery Low14
Osborne CountyVery Low17
Webster County, NELow14

Common questions about Jewell County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Jewell County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Jewell County, about $3.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Jewell County had?

Jewell County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Wildfires in May 2025.

Is Jewell County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 47th highest of 105 in Kansas. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Jewell County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Jewell County had?

NOAA records list 43 tornadoes in Jewell County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on May 29, 2008 near Jewell. The weather service has also logged 332 hail reports and 12 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.